Update on Safety Cushions and Stop Sign Removals

Photos:
Speed Cushions
Pedestrian Sign

By now many of you have noticed that new Speed Cushions have been installed throughout Sonoma Ranch and some of the older, existing Speed Bumps have been removed. At the time of this writing we are waiting for the Speed Cushions to be striped and once this happens Phase 1 will have been completed. Phase 2 will be completed sometime in Q1 of 2011. For those of you who attended the Speed Cushion Town Hall Meeting on July 28th, I thank you for coming and asking many good questions. The Traffic Study data and results are still posted on the Sonoma Ranch Website for those of you who would like to take a look. Our next Safety and Security Committee Meeting will be on September 21st and anyone is invited to attend. We welcome any comments, advice, and feedback.

In conjunction with the installation of new speed cushions on various streets throughout Sonoma Ranch our Traffic Engineering Firm also recommended that we remove some unnecessary Stop Signs at various locations. Effective on Thursday, August 19, 2010 the two (2) Stop Signs on Ruidosa Downs at the entrances to the clubhouse parking lot will be removed and replaced with two (2) Slow Pedestrian Crossing Signs. With this change of signage we ask that all Sonoma Ranch homeowners and family members exercise judgement and caution when driving along Ruidosa Downs in the vicinity of the Recreation Center, Pool Area, and Sports Courts, especially in light of the number of young children that frequent this area. We hope that this initiative to remove these stop signs is received in a positive light and that everyone driving along this stretch of Ruidosa Downs complies with the 25 mph posted speed limit.

Notes from Sonoma Ranch Town Hall Meeting

The Safety and Security Committee, chaired by Mike DeFilippo, held its first town hall meeting in the effort to communicate the recent findings, decisions, and planning recommended by the committee and recently approved by the board.

Also in attendance were two our Board members, Kathy and Don, our onsite manager, Lee Tompkins, and our association manager, Joanna Johnson. The Kimley-Horn Traffic Engineer who performed the traffic survey, Amy Lewis, was also present. This has been a massive undertaking with frequent meetings by a large number of people with many different perspectives on traffic calming measures.

Mike recapped the journey of the committee and their process, from start to current including the selection of the engineering company to the assessment of recommendations subsequently presented. This was then followed by a Q&A period with questions answered by Mike, Kimley-Horn, and other S&S members.

Once all the questions were answered, Mike rolled out the two phases of the installment plan to all the attendees and then took some final questions.

The committee has certainly done its best to achieve a fiscally responsible solution that addresses the many concerns on this issue for the entire community.

More details to follow…….

WIRELESS INTERNET CAPABILITY NOW AVAILABLE AT THE RECREATION FACILITY/POOL COMPLEX

Homeowners and their immediate family members may now bring their laptops to the Recreation Facility and/or Pool Area and access the internet via a new available wireless capability. To obtain access, please contact the On-Site Manager or a Recreation Staff Member for assistance. We hope you enjoy this new amenity that is now available to all our homeowners and immediate family members.

August Yard of the Month Winners!

Congratulations to the following homeowners!

The Summit – 419 Cavayo Trail – Kyle and Sandra Weld
The Springs – 15023 Pastura Pass – Matthew Gomez
The Village – 15519 Portales Pass – Jim and Connie Miller
The Enclave – 14802 Los Lunas – Bruce and Ruby Casteel
The Reserve – 310 Candelaria – Mark & Gwendolyn Crowell
The Hills – 8731 Roswell Ridge – Roger & Suzette Rodriguez
The Meadows – 8219 Sabinoso Drive – Carmen & Bonnie Gioello

BOARD MEETING UPDATE

The SR HOA held their monthly board meeting on April 9th. The agenda included reviewing the completion the final draft of the Swim Team Approval and Proposal booklet, and a new Committee Handbook which Don Wuebben has taken the initiative to draft. The latter will provide additional administrative guidance to committee members—including information on who to go for questions, reimbursement receipt forms, etc.

The surveillance camera installation is delayed as we wait for equipment to arrive. Swim lessons will be offered as in past years (please see webpage for times). The board also approved an increase in the pool usage/rental fee to $100 (originally $50) in addition to the standard clubhouse rental fee per recommendation of the Recreational Facilities Committee.

Two finalist landscape contractors also made a presentation to the board as contract time approaches once again. The 24/7 gate closing seems to have passed its initial stages without incident. The board was also looking into cement aprons around mailboxes. They concluded that there are only a few areas that may need work which could be done with our current landscaping company.

For the month of May, the board will meet with all committee members at the clubhouse. The date and more information will be distributed through the chairpersons. This meeting will be in the evening to encourage attendance. The committee handbook is expected to be distributed at that time.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE

Now that the gates are closed 24/7, please advise your children to use the Pedestrian Gates for entering and exiting the neighborhoods. They should refrain from using the Vehicle Gates as the gates can close or open when cars approach.

Call Lee at the SR On-Site Office if you need a gate code.

Gate Remote Transmitters are available at the SR On-Site Office (phone number 210-372-0268)

TRASH PICK-UP SERVICE

Waste Management (WM) is our current trash pick-up service provider for all Sonoma Ranch Homeowners except The Meadows.

As a Homeowner you are required to contact WM to set up an account so that your trash and recyclable items will be picked up on a regular basis. Trash is picked up on Wednesdays and Saturdays; recyclables are picked up on Thursday. If you have not contacted WM to recieve Trash service you should do so immediately. You can contact them at 1-800-800-5804.

If you have any other questions regarding this requirement, please feel free to contact the Sonoma Ranch On-site Manager at 210-372-0268.

NOTICE TO ALL SONOMA RANCH HOMEOWNERS

Currently, any funds expended by any SR HOA Committee must benefit the entire Sonoma Ranch Community. Any other proposals must be properly vetted and approved by the Sonoma Ranch Board of Directors.

The HOA Board is here to represent all 1,200 Sonoma Ranch homeowners best interests!

2010 Swim Season News

Sonoma Ranch Renegades

Inaugurated in 2006 under the stellar leadership of residents Linda Nelms and Jenice Dames, the Renegades joined the Maverick Swim League and took first place as a Division III team last year. Just three short years later, they are now swimming in Division I and already beat last year’s champs, Boerne. The SRHOA board recently approved the Swim Team proposal for the 2010 season.

The Renegade 2010 Swim Team season will run from May 17th through June 25th

APPROVED PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

• Monday, May 17 through Wednesday, June 2 (PM practices due to school in session):
  • The team will practice from 4:30 – 8:00 PM using 3 lanes only of the lap pool. This will keep the pool open to the greater community during the month of May.
• Friday, June 4 to June 25th (switch to AM practices):
  • The Swim team will practice before the pool’s regular opening hours.
• Swim Meets:
  • Dates and details are being finalized and will be posted before the season starts.
• Other important information:
  • Please note that the pool filter has been upgraded, and cleanings have been increased from twice a week to 6 times a week in response to comment

Visit the swim team website: http://www.sonomaranchrenegades.org/Home.php

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR SONOMA RANCH RENEGRADE SWIMMERS!

SWIM TEAM PROPOSAL APPROVED

The SR Board of Directors acknowledges its responsibility to ALL homeowners to protect its assets, enforce by-laws, with safety & security and fiscal responsibility in mind. The leaders of the Sonoma Ranch Renegade Swim Team have worked laboriously these past three years to bring a safe organized 7-week activity to this community that currently serves over 100 of our children.

The Board also recognizes the pool as Sonoma Ranch’s most valuable asset and past concerns on usage. This year, the board created a proposal and approval process that will ensure accountability and transparency throughout the entire community, as it should, while at the same time facilitating yearly reviews. On January 14th, the Board of Directors voted to approve the 2010 Swim Team Proposal. This was after a lengthy and careful review of the swim team needs, predominantly those dealing with safety, as well as minimizing the impact to the greater community during regular pool hours. More information will be posted in the coming weeks as details are finalized. Information will also be sent out community-wide in our upcoming newsletter. Many thanks go to our swim team leader/parent volunteers, Recreation Facilities Committee, and to each and every resident who who provided community input, as well as our entire management team (board members, onsite manager, and AMS).
(posted January 15th)

Sonoma Ranch has a Star!

"Billy Elliot: The Musical" is a Tony-winning adaptation of the 2000 film about a kid from a rough mining town who discovers he has a gift for dance. …Hundreds of girls from all over the country auditioned to be one of the eight Ballet Girls. They had to show their ability in jazz, ballet and tap dance; they also had to sing and act.

As the number of contenders winnowed down, 9 year-old Christine DeFilippo from Sonoma Ranch made every cut. And, at the end of the process, she had a speaking role.” Read more…

Happy New Year!

The board of directors held their monthly meeting Thursday Jan 7th. Top items for review included the progress of the Safety and Security Committee. They continue to do an outstanding job, especially since this committee has been truly representative of all our neighborhoods --consisting of members on both sides of the issues. On January 13th, the selected Surveillance Camera installation company will address the committee. The process is also winding down for the selection of a company to conduct a traffic study. This will address not only speed bumps, but parking issues along the Summit gate as well as other related issues. The Swim Team, through the Recreation Facilities committee also submitted their proposal for pool use for the 2010 season. The board was unable to come to a decision during the meeting, and requested more information.

Since the pool is the Community’s most valuable asset, we have requested that they provide this. This information will also serve to document that all items were reviewed and in compliance, and facilitate the process in ensuing years. We are aware that there have been long standing Swim Team concerns. We also note that they serve over 100 of our SR children. We are committed to make every effort to find a reasonable resolution. We hope, at the very latest, to have reached a resolution by our next board meeting, if not earlier, with said resolution to be posted here for the entire SR community. The pool is also in need of ground repairs, and so will need to be emptied for this work. This should take place in the next couple of months. Trees, to enhance the landscape, will be planted along Ruidosa Run. A notice will go out to all homeowners in that area.

Finally, we continue to urge you to sign up for our email blast service and to visit the website frequently as updates and information are continuously posted. A newsletter should go out later this month with news from our Treasurer.

Best Wishes for a Safe and Happy New Year!

Visit our new Safety and Security Page

INTERESTED IN JOINING A COMMITTEE?

At the annual meeting we had sign-up sheets available for those interested in joining committees. Committees are new, reactivated, or continuing. Per the Committee resolutions, a chair is (re)appointed each term; the board is currently attending the initial meetings starting this month. If you are interested in participating, or joining a committee, please check this website frequently for committee meeting announcements. You can then attend or contact the chairperson for more information.

You can also contact Lee at srhoa@sbcglobal.net or email any one of the board members for more information on any committee.